Freelancers

BIDA KA!: Pinoy freelancers

Mga bida, dumarami na ang freelancers sa buong bansa.

Wala silang mahabang kon­trata sa isang kumpanya at nagtatrabaho lang para sa isang parti­kular na proyekto.

Ang bayad naman nito ay naka­depende sa kasunduan sa pagitan ng freelancer at nagpagawa ng trabaho.

Dahil mas kontrolado ng freelancer ang kanyang oras at kondisyon ng trabaho, marami sa ating mga kababayan ang naeengganyong pumasok bilang freelancer.

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Kabilang na rito si Marvin, isang freelance professional photographer at video editor.

Bilang freelancer, maraming kumukuha sa serbisyo ni Marvin, mula sa paggawa ng simpleng video o photo ­coverage sa kasal at iba pang malalaking event.

Maganda man ang bayad bilang freelancer, ngunit inaangal ni Marvin na ilang ulit na rin siyang naloko at hindi nabayaran ng mga kliyente.

May ilang sitwasyon na inabot ng taon bago siya mabayaran kahit tapos na niya ang kanyang bahagi sa kasunduan.

Sa sitwasyon naman ni Paolo, marami siyang nakukuhang kliyente na nagpapagawa ng graphics at iba pang disenyo para sa kanilang kumpanya, website at mga produkto.

 

Problema naman ni Paolo, may ilang kliyente na nanghi­hingi ng official receipt na nakukuha lamang sa BIR kung ­nakarehistro siya bilang isang negosyo.

Nahihirapan siyang makatugon sa maraming requirements ng Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) at dahil doon, kailangan niyang tanggihan ang ibang proyekto at trabaho.

Ang masaklap na karanasang ito nina Marvin at Paolo ay karaniwan nang nangyayari sa mga Pinoy freelancers.

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Mga bida, ito ang dahilan kung bakit inihain natin ang Senate Bill No. 351 na layong protektahan ang karapatan at kapakanan ng freelancers, ngayong isa na silang lumalaking sektor sa bansa.

Naniniwala ako na ngayong dumarami na ang freelancers sa bansa, nararapat lang na sila’y protektahan ng pamahalaan at tulungan sa mabilis na pagkuha ng kailangang dokumento sa pamahalaan, lalo na sa BIR.

Kapag naisabatas ang panukala, may kapangyarihan na ang freelancers na hingin sa employer ang mga nararapat na bayad at benepisyo sa ilalim ng kanilang kasunduan.

Kapag tumanggi ang employer na bayaran ang free­lancer para sa serbisyong ibinigay, maaaring maghain ng reklamo sa Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), na puwedeng magpataw ng multa na aabot sa P250,000 kapag napatuna­yang hindi tumupad sa usapan ang isang panig.

May dagdag pang multa sa bawat araw na nabigong bayaran ng employer ang freelancer. Magkakaroon din ng karapatan ang freelancer na magsampa ng civil case upang mahabol ang bayad para sa kanyang serbisyo.

Layon ng panukala na gawing simple para sa freelancers ang pro­seso pagdating sa pagpapatala sa BIR at gawin na lang itong taunan.

Mabibigyan din sila ng tax exemption sa unang tatlong taon kung ang kanilang taxable income at hindi lalampas sa P300,000 at 10 porsiyento kung ang taxable income naman ay nasa pagitan ng P300,000 hanggang P10 milyon bawat taon.

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Kung hindi natin bibigyan ng karampatang ­suporta ang sektor na ito, sayang ang oportunidad, lalo na ang pagkaka­taong mabigyan ng kabuhayan ang marami nating kababayan.

Oras nang tulungan natin ang mga kababayan nating freelancers na umasenso!

Bam eyes protection for PH freelancers

With freelancing now a growing sector in the country’s labor force, Sen. Bam Aquino has filed a measure seeking to protect the rights and welfare of freelancers.

 “With more and more freelancers in the country, we are confronted with an urgent need to protect this new sector and empower them with ease of doing business,” Sen. Bam said in Senate Bill No 351.

 According to Sen. Bam, the bill gives freelancers the power to demand from their employer what they are rightfully due under their agreement.

 If an employer refuses to pay a freelancer for services rendered, the latter can file a complaint to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), which can impose a penalty of up to P250,000 on the non-compliant party if found liable.

 “Further civil penalties will also be imposed for every day that the employer refuses to compensate the freelancer. The aggrieved party has the option of filing a civil case against his or her employer,” said Sen. Bam.

 The measure also makes it easier for freelancers to register in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and mandates that they be exempted from tax payments for the first three years.

 “Let us waste no time in ensuring that they are not inconvenienced by red tape and that they are protected from difficult, even fraudulent clients,” said Sen. Bam.

 The bill was referred to the Committees on Labor and Ways and Means.

Senate Bill No. 351: Freelancers Protection Act

Freelancing is no longer just a temporary state while looking for your dream job. For many intelligent and skilled Filipinos with a strong network and marketable services, it is a long-term career choice.

For many people that value mobility, their own time, and freedom from a fixed employer, freelancing is a dream job and fundamental source of livelihood.

With more and more freelancers in the country, we are confronted with an urgent need to protect this new sector and empower them with ease of doing business.

One of the biggest challenges of a freelancer is non-payment, which is why the Freelancer Bill gives freelancers the power to demand from their employer what they are rightfully due as per their signed contract.

In the event that an employer refuses to pay a freelancer for services rendered, the aggrieved party can file a complaint to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and can expect the agency to investigate and, should the complaint be considered valid, a penalty of up to P250,000 shall be imposed on the non-compliant employer.

Further civil penalties will also be imposed for every day that the employer refuses to compensate the freelancer and, in addition, the aggrieved party has the option of filing a civil case against his or her employer.

This measure also takes into account ease of doing business for freelancers, making it easier for freelancers to register in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and mandates that freelancers be exempted from tax payments for the first 3 years.

In our age of instantaneous global communication and interconnectivity, increased specialization, and a millennialism that values mobility, creativity, and entrepreneurship, we can only expect our pool of freelancers to grow.

Let us waste no time in ensuring that they are not inconvenienced by red tape and that they are protected from difficult, even fraudulent clients.

In view of the forgoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

PDFicon DOWNLOAD SBN 351

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